The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-02-12

which its benefciaries were engaged
than the other-one thirty-fve and the
other thirty-nine years after the ter
imitation of such embraced
persons who were quite advanced
! in age, assumed to be compare
lively few in number, and whose
circumstances, dependence and disa-
bilities were clearly defined, and could
be easily fixed. The other laws re-
| ferred to appear to have been passed at
a time so remote from the military SER
vice of the persons which they embraced
that their extreme alone was deemed to
supply presumption of dependency.
| The number of enlisted men in the
revolutionary war is stated to be 309, 791,
and in the war of 1872, 578 622, but it is
estimated that on account of repeated
re-enllstments the numDer of indlvidu-
ais engaged in these wars did
not exceed one-half of the
number represented by these
| figures. In the war with Mexico, the
number of enlistments is reported to be
IL, go, which represents greater pro-
portion of individuals engaged then
were reported in the enlistments in the
! two previous wars. The number of
pensions granted under all the laws to
SOLDl EhS OF The RhfOLUItO
is given at 60 ,O69; to soldiers of the war
of 1912, and their windows, COLTS; to
soldiers of the Mexican war and their
widows, up to June 80, 1885, 1919. This
number of pensions was granted to
! to soldiers of the war involving
much hardship, for the disabiIi-
ties incurred are the result
of such service; and 1t was
not till within the last month that the
! the few remaining survivors were
awarded service pension. The war of
the rebellion terminated nearly twenty
two years ago; the number of men fur
nished for its prosecution was stated to
be 2,772, 4O8. Under the statutes, 561,-
SIC pensions have been granted from
the year 1861 to June 30, 1856, and more
than $4,000 pensioners have been added
to the rolls by private acts passed to
able merit, which the general law does
not cover. On the first day of July,
| 1886, 365, 679 pensioners of all classes
were upon the pension rolls, of whom
305, sos we're survivors of the war and
dependents; for the year ending June
80, 1887. $75, 900, 900 have been appropri-
ated for the payment Of pensions, and
the amount expended Tor that purpose
from 1861 to July 1st, 1886, is $80S, 624 :
8l1.51. While annually paying out
a.t. SUCH VAST SUM f
for pensions already granted, it is now
proposed by the bill under considera-
ton to award service pension to
soldiers of all the wars in which the
United States has been engaged, in
Guiding, of course, the war of the re
bellion, and to pay those entitled to the
benefits of the act CT SO per month. So
far as it relates TO the soldiers of the
late civil war; the bounty it affords
them is given thirteen years earlier
than it has been furnished to
the soldiers of any other war. and be
fore a large majority of its benef-
Charles advanced in age beyond the
strength and vigor of the prime of life
1t exacts only a military and naval ser
vice of three months, without any re-
an enemy in battle, and without sub
lection to any of
THE ACTUAL DANGERS OF WAR.
The pension it awards is allowed to
enlisted men, who have not suffered
the least injury, disability, loss or dam
age of any kind incurred in or
in any degree referable to their mill
tary service, including those who never
reached the front at all, and those dis
charged from the rendezvous at the
close of the war, if discharged three
months after enlistment. Under the
last call of the President for troops, in
Dooop,har 1894 COG
nished who were thus discharged. The
section allowing this pension does, how
ever, require, besides a service of three
months and an honorable discharge
that those seeking the benefit of
the acs shall be such as are now
or may hereafter be suffer ng
from mental or physical disability
not the result of their own vicious
habits or gross carelessness which in
capacitates them for the performance
OF labor, in such degree as to render
them unable to earn support, and who
are dependent
UPON THEIR DAILY LABOR
for support. 1t provides, further, that
such persons shall, upon making proof
of the fact, be placed on the list of in
valid pensions of the United States, and
be entitled to receive for such total in
ability to procure their subsistence by
da ly labor, $12 per month, and
such shall commence from the date of
filing the application in the pension
office, upon proof that the disability
then existed, and continue during the
existence of the same in the degree
herein provided that persons who are
now receiving pensions under the
existing laws or whose claims are
pending in the pension Office. may by
application to the Commissioner Of
pensions. in such form as he may
prescribe, receive the benefit OF this
act. Ii Is manifeslly of the utmost
importance that the statutes which, like
pension laws, should be liberal y ADMIN
! istered, as measures of beuevolence in
behalf of worthy benedciaries, should
admit OF no uncertainty as to their
general objects, and consequences.
Upon Careful consideration of the
language of the section of this bill,
above given, it seems to be so uncer-
tain and liable to such conflicting con-
structions and to be subject to such an